I'd like to begin using my stock ballest. Is there a recommended process for filling and emptying the tanks. For example: I know there are 3 controls for 3 tanks. Can I fill all 3 at the same time? Should I leave the switches in the fill position until the pump stops? I've seen the engin should be running at about 1500 rpm. Should the boat be moving, or not. When emptying, will the water come out through vents in the side of the boat, or below the water line? Again, drain all 3 at once or one at a time. And should the boat be moving during the drain down. Mastercraft Manual has very little about the operation. Thought member experience would be more useful. Thanks.

I'd like to begin using my stock ballest. Is there a recommended process for filling and emptying the tanks. For example: I know there are 3 controls for 3 tanks. Can I fill all 3 at the same time? Should I leave the switches in the fill position until the pump stops? I've seen the engin should be running at about 1500 rpm. Should the boat be moving, or not. When emptying, will the water come out through vents in the side of the boat, or below the water line? Again, drain all 3 at once or one at a time. And should the boat be moving during the drain down. Mastercraft Manual has very little about the operation. Thought member experience would be more useful. Thanks.

I think the all the 06s came with the larger mainfold so you should be able to fill them all at the same time.

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Tim

"Heavy" beer is for wine drinkers that are too embarrassed to drink wine in front of their buddies. "Light" beer is a drinkin' man's beer!

All at once is fine. I like filling while moving to the riding spot.........others like sitting and filling while they stretch before the set...........Just keep the boat running to maximize the "juice".

I typically fill one at a time, but it seems to take forever. I looked at the manifold and it looks like a 1" hose from the thru hull that gets split into 3 3/4" hoses that run to the pumps. I am planning to add a couple more thru hull intakes this winter, so each pump has its own water source. I'm no fluid engineer, but it seems like that 1" can almost supply enough water for 2 pumps running simultaneously, but definitely not for all 3.

I typically fill one at a time, but it seems to take forever. I looked at the manifold and it looks like a 1" hose from the thru hull that gets split into 3 3/4" hoses that run to the pumps. I am planning to add a couple more thru hull intakes this winter, so each pump has its own water source. I'm no fluid engineer, but it seems like that 1" can almost supply enough water for 2 pumps running simultaneously, but definitely not for all 3.

What year is your boat? On my 06 I have at least a 2.5 inch and could be a 3 inch thru hull with 1 inch feeder lines.

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Tim

"Heavy" beer is for wine drinkers that are too embarrassed to drink wine in front of their buddies. "Light" beer is a drinkin' man's beer!

when you drain water will come out of the sides of the boat, just watch till it starts the sputter and stop then turn the pumps off...

I dunno about the 08 X1's, but the 07-up I think newer hull styles drain out the bottom of the boat, so you have to rely on the guage or listen carefully to the pumps to know when the tanks are empty. Bad idea IMO, let the water come out the side so thre's an easy visual when they're drained or the pump quits working.
If I had a newer boat, I'd try to switch the empty port to above waterline or put a manual drain that I could open up once the boat is on the trailer.

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'06 X2 MCX

"I understand why some people may not want to do this the way I have recommended but I can't understand the death grip some people have on a toilet plunger with a hose fitting." -JimN